The course
The Summer School in Urban Mobility and Healthy Ageing: Innovations for a Sustainable Future aims to equip international master’s students in Urban Mobility with the skills to design, develop, and implement solutions that promote health and functional independence for individuals with reduced mobility or those at risk of mobility decline in urban environments.
Want to hear more about the programme?
Register here to join our next live webinar: Tuesday, 14th April | 17:00 (CET)
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Early application deadline: 1st May
Standard application deadline: 30th May
Course Dates
Online Component (Self-Paced, Asynchronous):
01st – 30th June 2026
Face-to-Face Problem Analysis Week:
Lisbon, 06th – 10th July 2026
Face-to-Face Problem-Solving and Investor Pitch Week:
Barcelona, 13th – 17th July 2026
Course organizers and location
- University of Lisbon – Cidade Universitária, Alameda da Universidade, 1649-004 Lisboa, Portugal
- Technical University of Catalonia – Carrer de Jordi Girona, 31, Les Corts, 08034 Barcelona, Spain
Tuition Fee
- Early-bird fee: €700, deadline: 1st May
- Standard Fee: €1000, deadline: 30th May
The Course Framework
The Summer School consists of three interconnected learning phases:
Lisboa:
| 6 Monday | 7 Tuesday | 8 Wednesday | 9 Thursday | 10 Friday |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Analyzing the problems of ageing people’s mobility | Initial brainstorming of solutions | |||
Barcelona:
| 13 Monday | 14 Tuesday | 15 Wednesday | 16 Thursday | 17 Friday |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Developing solutions by working in groups, interviewing affected professionals and users. |
Investor session and final pich The best solution wins a prize! |
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"Breakfast and lunch included!"
Online Component: 2 weeks, asynchronous
- Introduction to mobility and ageing: key challenges, trends, and opportunities.
- The impact of ageing on urban mobility: physical, psychological, and societal aspects.
- Policy frameworks, urban planning, and inclusive transportation solutions.
- Entrepreneurship and innovation in mobility for ageing populations.
Face-to-Face Week 1: Problem Analysis – Lisbon
- Visits to locations and case studies addressing mobility challenges faced by older people.
- We create groups/teams with the objective to create and develop a new proposal.
- Data collection and stakeholder engagement with urban planners, transport authorities, and ageing communities.
- Collaborative efforts to define problem statements and pinpoint key areas for innovation.
Face-to-Face Week 2: Problem-Solving and Pitch Event – Barcelona
- Hands-on workshops fostering collaborative innovation to design feasible mobility solutions.
- Expert mentorship from industry leaders, startups, affected associations, and academia.
- Prototype development paired with business model creation.
- Investor pitch event, where teams present and sell their proposals to a panel of experts. The group that secures the highest investment wins the final prize!
Why this Course ?
UMAIS combines cutting-edge knowledge with real urban challenges at the intersection of mobility and healthy ageing. Through challenge-based learning and expert mentorship, participants turn ideas into viable solutions. Build skills, networks, and impact in two leading European innovation hubs.
Skills to be Gained
By participating in this Summer School, you will:
- Acquire an interdisciplinary understanding of urban mobility and ageing.
- Learn to design and propose innovative mobility solutions for ageing populations.
- Develop skills in stakeholder engagement, entrepreneurship, and innovation.
- Gain experience in problem-solving through real-world urban challenges.
- Enhance your ability to work in international, multidisciplinary teams.
- Receive expert mentorship and network with key industry players.
- Improve your pitching and business presentation skills.
Participating Universities
- University of Lisbon – Dedicated to entrepreneurship and innovation, it provides an ideal setting for expert-led lectures and the early development of group projects.
- Technical University of Catalonia – Hosted by research groups BIT-UPC and CARNET-UPC, which specialize in mobility and entrepreneurship, this setting is purpose-built for expert sessions and collaborative project incubation.
Organization Staff
Filomena Carnide
(course manager)
Fátima Baptista
(course manager)
Miquel Estrada
(course manager)
Biel Pallarès
(course manager)
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Filipa Carvalho
Professor, FMH-ULisboa
(team member)
Laia Pagès
(team member)
Neus Matamoros
(team member)
Requirements
Innovators, designers, and entrepreneurs passionate about solving real-world urban mobility challenges.
Participants should possess a strong command of English (B2 level or higher).
How to apply
Fill out the online application form (link to be provided).
Submit the required documents (see below).
Selected candidates will be notified and provided with further details about their enrollment.
Course completion
- Successful completion of the online preparatory component.
- Full in-person participation in the programme activities in Lisbon and Barcelona.
- Final group presentation at an investor pitch event following two weeks of collaborative work.
Certification
Participants who complete the full programme (including online and in-person components) will receive an EIT-labelled certificate of completion, which is recognised across Europe as a mark of professional and academic development.
The Venue
